Adjustable support garment

ABSTRACT

A body support garment comprising a continuous portion encircling the hips of the wearer, and a portion encircling the waist of the wearer and extending to an upper edge of the garment, said garment being split down from said upper edge toward said hip encircling portion to form overlapping flaps on opposite sides of the split. Means is provided to releasably attach together the overlapping flaps in various angular positions. Members attached to the flaps adjacent the end of the split remote from the upper edge, are pivoted to each other to facilitate adjustment of the flaps and whereby the dimension of the hip encircling portion may be maintained while adjusting the waistline dimension of the garment to accommodate the wearer whose waistline may vary considerably at times without proportional variation in hipline dimension. The garment is preferably made of material which stretches circumferentially, The garment may also have leg portions which are split and have overlapping adjustable flaps. The invention may be embodied in a woman&#39;&#39;s girdle or a man&#39;&#39;s brief.

United States Patent [191 Bienenfeld Oct. 9, 1973 ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT GARMENT [75] lnventor: Myron Bienenfeld, Lawrence, NY.

[73] Assignee: Magic Mold, lnc., Freeport, NY.

[22] Filed: July 5, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 269,262

[52] U.S. Cl. 128/558 [51] Int. Cl. A4lc 1/00 [58] Field of Search 128/520, 518, 525,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,670,738 6/1972 Johnson 128/549 2,680,848 6/1954 Hannes et a1. 128/549 X OTHER PUBLICATIONS Velcro Exhibit A.

Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney-Marvin Feldman et a1.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A body support garment comprising a continuous portion encircling the hips of the wearer, and a portion encircling the waist of the wearer and extending to an upper edge of the garment, said garment being split down from said upper edge toward said hip encircling portion to form overlapping flaps on opposite sides of the split. Means is provided to releasably attach together the overlapping flaps in various angular positions. Members attached to the flaps adjacent the end of the split remote from the upper edge, are pivoted to each other to facilitate adjustment of the flaps and whereby the dimension of the hip encircling portion may be maintained while adjusting the waistline dimension of the garment to accommodate the wearer whose waistline may vary considerably at times without proportional variation in hipline dimension. The garment is preferably made of material which stretches circumferentially, The garment may also have leg portions which are split and have overlapping adjustable flaps. The invention may be embodied in a v woman's girdle or a mans brief.

18 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT GARMENT This invention relates to adjustable body support garments such as womens girdles, panty girdles and menss briefs.

Difficulty has been experienced heretofore with womens support garments because women s waistline dimensions change rapidly at times without proportionate change in hipline dimensions. The hip may not vary while the waistline may suddenly expand rapidly as at menstruation time. It is hence an object of this invention to provide a garment of the character described having means to easily adjust the effective waistline dimension while maintaining the hip dimension.

Another object of this invention is to provide a garment of the character described having a continuous hip encircling portion and formed with a split extending down from the waistline to said hip encircling portion to form flaps provided with means to attach said flaps together in overlapping relation in various angularly adjusted portions.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a garment of the character described in which the overlapping flaps are interconnected adjacent the closed end of the split by an interpivoted connection, to facilitate relative rotation of said flaps to adjusted portions.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a garment of the character described which has not only a split for waistline adjustment but leg portions which split to provide overlapping flaps releasably attachable together in various adjusted angular positions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a strong and durable garment of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which may be made of material stretchable in a circum ferential direction, which shall be easy to adjust, comfortable to wear and which shall yet be practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

The above objects and further objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a front elevational view of a ladies support garment, depicting adjustable lower torso support construction and adjustable support construction for the thighs;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the garment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial side view of the left thigh adjustable support construction of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a man's support garment depicting adjustable lower torso support construction;

FIG. 9 is a rear view of the garment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 11--1l of FIG. 8.

Referring now to FIGS. 17, there is shown a ladies support garment 10 comprising a rear panel 1 l, a right (wearers right side) front panel 12a, a left front panel 12b and a crotch panel 13. The front panels 12a and 12b extend from top free edges 12:11 and 12b1, respectively, at the waist, to bottom free edges 12a2 and 12b2 respectively, at the thighs and are stitched to side edges 11a and 11b of rear panel 11 at side edges 12a3 amd 12b3 respectively, of the front panel. The front and back edges of crotch panel 13 are stitched to the edges l2a4, HM and 11c, of the front panels and rear panel, respectively.

The garment panels 11, 12a, 12b and 13 are constructed of elastic support material and are stretchable to contour the lower torso portion of the body as shown in FIG. 1. The garment construction may be of modified construction to contour the middle torso portion of the body as well. (See the broken lines of FIG. 1).

Referring now to FIG. 4 there is shown the end portion 12b5 or flap of left front panel 12b in overlapping relationship to the end portion I2a5 or flap of right front panel 12a. End portion 12a5 comprises an inner reinforcing panel 14, faced with the inner surface of panel 12a. The end edges of faced panels 12a and 14 are overlaid by a vertically disposed fabric trim piece 15 and the panels 12a and 14 and trim piece 15 are integrally stitched at 15a and 15b. Panels 14 and 12a are also stitched at 14a. Overlying the outer surface of right front panel 12a is a backing 16 having Velcro pad 17 integrally formed therewith outwardly facing therefrom. Specifically Velcro pad 17 is a triangular-shaped tufted fabric pad and is releasably securable with opposing rectangular-shaped Velcro pad 18, said pad 18 integrally stitched to opposed end portion l2b5 of overlapping left front panel 12b. Specifically, Velcro pad 18 is a pad comprising a plurality of fine hooks, said hooks being interengageable and releasably securable with opposed tufted pad of Velcro pad 17.

Velcro pad 18 is formed to a backing 19, the outer surface of the backing facing the inner surface of a reinforcing panel 20. Reinforcing panel 20 in turn faces the inner surface of end portion 12b5. A fabric trim piece 21 is stitched to the panels 20 and l2b5 at 21a and 21b. Panels 20 and l2b5 are also stitched at 20a. Stitching 21b further secures the Velcro pad 18- backing l9 combination to the left front end panel position 12b5.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 5, there is shown the downwardly converging portions of overlapping end portions or flaps, 12b5 and l2a5, forming a split in the garment. lntegrally mounted on and through hole 12b6, end portion l2b5 and concentric hole 31a of reinforcing pad 31, is female part 3012 of snap fastener 30. A non-elastic reinforcing pad 31 is mounted between the female seat of the female fastener part 30b and the end portion 12175 of panel 12b and stitched thereto by stitching 21a, 21b and 310.

The male part of first member 30a of snap fastener 30 is integrally mounted on and through hole 12a6 of end portion 12a5 as well as concentric hole 32a of nonelastic reinforcing pad 32. Pad 32 is stitched to panel end portion l2a5 at 15a, 15b and 32c.

The male part 300 is disengageably interengageable with and rotatable within a second member or female part 3022. In this manner, the convergent downward portions of the overlapping end portions l2a5 and 12b5 are snap fastened so that overlapping panels, stretchable panels 12a5 and 12b5, are pivoted by snap fastener 30. A Velcro pad 18 is securable to Velcro pad 17 of the pivoted overlapped panel end portion 1205 at the desired adjusted fit of garment to the wearers body. The Velcro-secured stretch panels thereby provide an adjusted supportive smooth fit to the waist, abdomen, hips, and lower rear portions of the wearer.

It is also provided in the garment of the invention, that adjustable support features be provided for the thighs, generally in combination with the adjustable support construction as described hereinabove.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a right thigh adjustable support 50a (in adjusted position) and a left thigh adjustable support 50b (in a nonadjusted position). It is to be understood that the adjustable thigh supports 50a and 50b are similar in design and function and references to one are likewise applicable to the other.

Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown left thigh adjustable support 50b comprising overlapping end portion or flap 12127 of panel 12b and overlapping end portion or flap 11b1 of rear panel 11. End portion 12b7 comprises a Velcro tufted fabric pad 51 and backing 52, stitched to the outer surface of panel 12b along bottom free edge l2b2. Theside edge 12128 of end portion 12177 is upwardly angularly cut and is covered by trim piece 53. End portion llbl comprises a Velcro type plurality of hooks pad 54 and backing 55 stitched to the inner surface of rear panel 11 adjacent to side edge llb2 and bottom edge 1lb3. Side edge llb2 is cut so as to have a first section extending perpendicularly from the bottom free edge 11b3 and a contiguous second section upwardly arcuately curved, so that said side edge llb2 of end portion llbl converges with side edge 12b8 of end portion 12b7 so as to form a slit in the garment. Side edge llb2 is covered by trim piece 56 which is stitched thereto.

Referring now to FIG. 6 there is shown the Velcro pad 57 of end portion 11a interengaged with Velcro pad 58 of right end portion 12a7 of panel 12a. Also shown in detail is elastic trim piece 12:19 stitched to panel 12a at bottom edge 1202 and elastic trim piece 1105 stitched to rear panel 11 at bottom edge 1lb3 thereof. Similarly there is a bottom elastic trim piece for the left thigh construction. And further there is provided an elastic waist trim piece 60 at top free edges 12111 and 12b1.

The garment 10 thus has an upper end 10a and lower ends 10b. Said garment has a first portion 10c encircling the hips of the wearer, a second portion 10d extending up from the first portion 100 to the upper end 10a. The garment is split down the middle of the front of the garment from its upper end 10a to form flaps We and 10f on opposite sides of the split which can overlap to various adjusted angles of overlap. The overlapping portions are triangular. The garment also has third portions 10g extending down from the first portion 10c to the lower ends 10b. The third portions comprise the legs 10g of the garment.

It will also be noted that the Velcio attaches the flaps substantially throughout the lengths of the flaps in various angular relative positions of said flaps so that the closure is substantially continuous in said various angular positions.

In FIGS. 8-11 there is shown another embodiment of the invention, to wit, a man's support garment 100. Support garment 100 comprises a rear panel 110 stitched to a front right panel 120a and a front left panel 120b. The front panels have overlapping end portions 12005 and 120b5, respectively. The opposed surfaces of said end portions have interengaging Velcro pads as in the previously discussed womans garment. Snap fastener 300 rotatably fastens the converging overlapping end portions 120a5 and 120175 and is similar in construction and operation to end portions 12a5 and 12b5 and snap fastener 30 as discussed hereinbefore.

Bottom edge 120a2 of panel 120a and bottom edge 11002 of rear panel form an opening for receiving the right leg. Edges 120a2 and l l0a2 are covered by elastic trim piece 120a10. Similarly a leg opening is likewise constructed for receiving the left leg.

Man's support garment is formed with a stretchable genital panel 130, the edges thereof forming a hexagonal configuration. The bottom edge 130a (FIG. 11) thereof is stitched to bottom edge s of the rear panel 110, two side edges thereof 1300 and 130e being stitched to front vertical panel edges 1201111 and 1201211, respectively, and the upper edge 1350f thereof being unstitched. Free edge 130f is covered by elastic trim piece 165. A dart 131 is formed in panel 130 and extends vertically upwardly and perpendicularly from edge 130a.

Opposed to, and overlapping upper edge 130fof genital panel 130 but unconnected thereto are the overlapped lower edge portions 120012 and b12 of panels 1200, 120b, respectively, as seen in FIGS. 8 and 11.

Overlapped lower edge portions 120a12 and 120b12 are covered by elastic trim 166 stitched thereto. By this manner of construction the genital panel is partially independently stretchable away from stretchable panels 110, 1200 and 120b and thusly affords greater accomodation to the wearer.

In operation, the wearer firstly disengages all Velcro pads and un-snaps the front fastener and then puts 'on the garment. The snap fastener is then snapped closed and the front end portions pivotally overlapped one to the other and stretched in overlapping relationship to the degree desired. The overlapped end portions are then pressedly secured together by the interengaged opposed Velcro pads. If thigh adjustments are provided, the thigh flaps are then stretchably, overlappingly secured about each of the thighs to the desired degree of fit. In this manner the entire garment is thereby adjusted to smoothly contour the body, providing the desired degree of support.

It will now be noted that in the garments herein described the dimension at the hipline of the wearer is maintained, except for the stretchability of the cloth or other material of which said garment is made, whereas the garments are adjustable at the waistline and in the leg portions to changes in girth of the wearer at said parts of the body.

In the foregoing a preferred embodying of the support garment of the invention has been shown and described and changes and additions may be made in such embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A garment having an upper end and a lower end, and a first continuous portion to encircle the body of the wearer in the region of the hips, and a second portion extending from one side of said first portion to one of said ends of said garment, said second portion having a split extending from said one of said ends of said garment toward said first portion and forming flaps on opposite sides of said split, which may be overlapped, means to attach together said flaps of said second portion in various adjusted angular overlapping relation, said split terminating adjacent said first portion, said garment having means for pivotally connecting the said flaps adjacent the end of the split remote from said one of said ends of said garment.

2. The combination of claim 1, said pivotal connecting means comprising a first member fixed to one flap and a second member fixed to the other flap and having a rotary fit with respect to said first member, whereby said flaps will pivot about said pivotal connecting means one relative to the other.

3. The combination of claim 1, said garment having a third portion extending from the other side of said first portion to the opposite end of said garment, said third portion having a split extending from said opposite end of said garment, and means to attach together the parts of said third portion on opposite sides of the split in said third portion in various angularly adjusted overlapping relation.

4. The combination of claim 3, said second portion of said garment encircling the body at the waistline and said third portion of said garment comprising a leg of the garment.

5. The combination of claim 3, said means for attaching the flaps of said third portion together in adjusted relation comprising Velcro.

6. The combination of claim 1, the overlapping flaps of said second portion being triangular.

7. The combination of claim 1, said pivotal connection comprising a snap fastener, said snap fastener comprising a male fastener member on one flap and a female snap fastener member on the other flap and rotatably receiving said male fastener member.

8. The combination of claim 1, said means for attaching the flaps of said second portion together in adjusted relation comprising Velcro.

9. The combination of claim 1, said split being located at the middle of the front of the garment.

10. The combination of claim 1, said split in said second portion being located at the middle of the front of the garment, said garment having a third portion extending from the other side of said first portion to the opposite end of said garment, said third portion having a split extending from the other end of said garment, and means to attach together the parts of said third portion on opposite sides of the split in said third portion in various angularly adjusted overlapping relation, said split in the third portion being located at the side of said third portion.

11. A garment having an end edge and a portion to encircle the body of the wearer, and a portion extending from said encircling portion to said end edge, said second mentioned portion having a split extending from said end edge of the garment substantially to said encircling portion and forming flaps on opposite sides of said split which may be overlapped to various angular degrees of overlap, the overlapping portions of said flaps being triangular, with the apex of said triangular overlap portions at the end of the split adjacent said encircling portion, and means to attach together the facing surfaces of the overlapping triangular portions of said flaps, substantially throughout the lengths of said overlapping portions of said flaps at all angles of overlap of said flaps.

12. The combination of claim 11, said first portion of said garment comprising a hip portion of said garment and the second portion of said garment comprising a waist portion of said garment.

13. The combination of claim 11, said first portion of said garment comprising a hip portion of said garment and the second portion of said garment comprising a leg of said garment.

14. The combination of claim 11, said attach together means comprising a piece of Velcro attached to the facing side of one of said flaps and covering substantially the triangular overlap area of said one of said flaps at substantially maximum angle of overlap, and a piece of Velcro attached to the facing side of the other of said flaps, for cooperation with and interengagement with said first mentioned piece of Velcro.

15. The combination of claim 11, said first mentioned piece of Velcro being triangular.

16. The combination of claim 11, said split being located at the middle of the front of said garment.

17. The combination of claim 11, said garment having means for pivotally connecting said flaps adjacent said apex.

18. A garment having an end edge and a portion to encircle the body of the wearer, said garment having a portion extending from said encircling portion to said end edge said garment, said second mentioned portion of said garment having a split extending from said end edge substantially to said encircling portion and forming flaps on opposite sides of said split which may be overlapped to various angular degrees of overlap, the overlapping portions of said flaps being triangular with the apex of said triangular overlap portions at the end of the split adjacent said encircling portion, and means to attach the overlapping portions of said flaps together garment having means for pivotally connecting said flaps adjacent said apex. 

1. A garment having an upper end and a lower end, a first continuous portion to encircle the body of the wearer in the region of the hips, and a second portion extending from one side of said first portion to one of said ends of said garmEnt, said second portion having a split extending from said one of said ends of said garment toward said first portion and forming flaps on opposite sides of said split, which may be overlapped, means to attach together said flaps of said second portion in various adjusted angular overlapping relation, said split terminating adjacent said first portion, said garment having means for pivotally connecting the said flaps adjacent the end of the split remote from said one of said ends of said garment.
 2. The combination of claim 1, said pivotal connecting means comprising a first member fixed to one flap and a second member fixed to the other flap and having a rotary fit with respect to said first member, whereby said flaps will pivot about said pivotal connecting means one relative to the other.
 3. The combination of claim 1, said garment having a third portion extending from the other side of said first portion to the opposite end of said garment, said third portion having a split extending from said opposite end of said garment, and means to attach together the parts of said third portion on opposite sides of the split in said third portion in various angularly adjusted overlapping relation.
 4. The combination of claim 3, said second portion of said garment encircling the body at the waistline and said third portion of said garment comprising a leg of the garment.
 5. The combination of claim 3, said means for attaching the flaps of said third portion together in adjusted relation comprising Velcro.
 6. The combination of claim 1, the overlapping flaps of said second portion being triangular.
 7. The combination of claim 1, said pivotal connection comprising a snap fastener, said snap fastener comprising a male fastener member on one flap and a female snap fastener member on the other flap and rotatably receiving said male fastener member.
 8. The combination of claim 1, said means for attaching the flaps of said second portion together in adjusted relation comprising Velcro.
 9. The combination of claim 1, said split being located at the middle of the front of the garment.
 10. The combination of claim 1, said split in said second portion being located at the middle of the front of the garment, said garment having a third portion extending from the other side of said first portion to the opposite end of said garment, said third portion having a split extending from the other end of said garment, and means to attach together the parts of said third portion on opposite sides of the split in said third portion in various angularly adjusted overlapping relation, said split in the third portion being located at the side of said third portion.
 11. A garment having an end edge and a portion to encircle the body of the wearer, and a portion extending from said encircling portion to said end edge, said second mentioned portion having a split extending from said end edge of the garment substantially to said encircling portion and forming flaps on opposite sides of said split which may be overlapped to various angular degrees of overlap, the overlapping portions of said flaps being triangular, with the apex of said triangular overlap portions at the end of the split adjacent said encircling portion, and means to attach together the facing surfaces of the overlapping triangular portions of said flaps, substantially throughout the lengths of said overlapping portions of said flaps at all angles of overlap of said flaps.
 12. The combination of claim 11, said first portion of said garment comprising a hip portion of said garment and the second portion of said garment comprising a waist portion of said garment.
 13. The combination of claim 11, said first portion of said garment comprising a hip portion of said garment and the second portion of said garment comprising a leg of said garment.
 14. The combination of claim 11, said attach together means comprising a piece of Velcro attached to the facing side of one of said flaps and covering substantially The triangular overlap area of said one of said flaps at substantially maximum angle of overlap, and a piece of Velcro attached to the facing side of the other of said flaps, for cooperation with and interengagement with said first mentioned piece of Velcro.
 15. The combination of claim 11, said first mentioned piece of Velcro being triangular.
 16. The combination of claim 11, said split being located at the middle of the front of said garment.
 17. The combination of claim 11, said garment having means for pivotally connecting said flaps adjacent said apex.
 18. A garment having an end edge and a portion to encircle the body of the wearer, said garment having a portion extending from said encircling portion to said end edge said garment, said second mentioned portion of said garment having a split extending from said end edge substantially to said encircling portion and forming flaps on opposite sides of said split which may be overlapped to various angular degrees of overlap, the overlapping portions of said flaps being triangular with the apex of said triangular overlap portions at the end of the split adjacent said encircling portion, and means to attach the overlapping portions of said flaps together in various adjusted angular overlapping relation, said garment having means for pivotally connecting said flaps adjacent said apex. 